Track brace



May 19, 1925.

1,538,630 T.H.EDELBLUTE TRACK BRACE Filed Jan. 1'7, 1925 A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 19, 1925.

THOMAS H. EDELBLU'IE, 015 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRACK BRACE.

Application filed. January To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. EDEL- BLUTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Track Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in rail or track braces, and particularly to track braces which are adjustable for rails of different sizes.

Track braces of various forms have been devised and are largely used on railroads at curves and other points to supplement the wooden ties and hold the rails from spreading. They are also used in conjunction with and entirely without wooden ties on temporary trackage, sidings, etc.

The present invention has for its principal objects to provide an adjustable track brace of extremely rigid construction, which can be easily and quickly applied to the rails, or removed therefrom, and which will securely hold the rails from spreading. It is particularly designed for use in temporary trackage in and around mines, where ties are frequently not used, and where rails of different sizes are commonly found. It is, however, equally adaptable for use on railroads.

The nature of the invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the brace applied to a track;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the several parts of the rail engaging clamps of the brace;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 1. showing one of the clamps in detail, parts of the clamp being shown in section; and

Fig. 4; is a transverse section in the plane of line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, A designates the tie rod which extends across the track and which is longer than the width of the track. Its ends are threaded, as designated at 2, for aconsiderable length. The two rails are designated X.

At each end of the tie rod are the adjustable rail engaging clamps. These clamps comprise three principal parts B, C and D.

Part B is the central member. It is generally square or flat sided in cross section 17, 1927. Serial No. 3,038.

and has an opening extending longitudinally therethrough and into which the threaded part of the tie rod is slidably fitted. On its lower surface is an inclined portion 3 of decreasing thickness toward the inner end. The top 4; is flat, to provide a seat for the rail, and its outer end 5 is preferably inwardly beveled a very slight degree from its top down. Projecting beyond the top of the outer end of the member B is a small lug 6, for the purpose hereinafter described.

Member O goes to the inside of the rail. It is in the form of an elongated body having a generally squared flat-sided opening 7 extending throughout the greater portion of its length, the bottom 7* of this opening being inclined to conform to the inclination of part 3 of member B. The inner end of member B may thus be slidably and nonrotatably telesooped into member C. The extreme inner end of member G has a vertieallyelongated opening 8 therein through which the tie rod is slidably passed, the vertical elongation permitting of the vertical movement of member C with respect to the tie rod and the member B. Such vertical movement occurs when the member C is moved on the member B, the coacting inclined surfaces serving to raise or lower the member C to thus effect adjustment for rails of difierent sizes, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. On the member C is an overhanging rail flange engaging lip or projection 9. A reinforcing rib'may be provided at 10. j

Inside of the member C is a washer 11 and nut 12 threaded on the tie rod, which serve to adjustably confine the movement of the clamp.

The member D has-a vertical part 13 and an overhanging lip or rail engaging portion 16'. Passing through the vertical part 13 is a vertically extending slot through which the outer end of the tie rod passes. Part 13 has its inner face 15 inclined outwardly toward its upper end, so that it is slightly wedge shaped. The inclined face 15 bears against and cooperates with the inclined face 5 of member B.

In the member D is a flat-sided recess 17 into which lug 6 of member B extends. Upon examination of Fig. 3, it will be seen that, when the parts are in rail clamping position, the lug 6 is entirely out ofcontact with the rail X, the recess 17 being deep enough to allow this. This is so that the clan'iping action of member D will not be interfered with. V

The lug and recess are provided to facilitate the application of the clamp to the rail. In the first place, these interfitting parts hold the member D from turning, while the clamp is being fixed. The lug 6 also prevents member B from slipping back under the rail during the initial adjustn'ient of the clamp.

On the outer end of theshaft is a second washer 18 and a nut 19.

In operation, the parts are first loosely applied to the rail, andthe nuts 12 and 19 are then taken up. Asmembers B and C telescope, the coacting inclined surfaces and 7 forcepart 9 and surface a into tight rail-flange clamping position. Due tothe fact that, while rails ofdifferent sizes have flanges ofdifferentthickness, but of the same general angular inclination, the clampwill automatically adjust itself to rails of vary- 7 ing sizes within a givenrange.

The member l) is forced into rail-flange clampingposition by nut 19. lVhen it is atthe proper height to clamp the rail, nut 19 istaken up tight, and the wedge shape of the part 13 prevents member D, from being forced up after the, nut is tight.-

l't willbe understood that the object of slots 14: and 8 are for the purpose of'permitting such vertical adjustment of the two clamping members with respect to the red as may be necessary for the varying sizes of rails. It. is further proposed that the clamp maybe made invarious sizes, each size to take care of a certain range of rail sizes.

The clamp as thus constructed firmly holds the rail between the two end men bers and the single central member. It is adjustable as to width and height, and each clamping unit is adjustable on the tie rod to different gauges. Due to the few parts employed, and the interfittingrelation of such parts, the brace can be easily handled and applied to the rail. The construction ofthe parts is such that they can be cheaply cast Withoutsubsequent machining.

I claim: 7

1. A. rail. brace including a tie rod and an adjustable rail engaging clamp on the tie rod, said clamp including acentral clamping member adapted to engage the under side of a ra-il and through which the tierod is slidably passed, said. central member being beveled at oneend and having an inclined bottom face tapering toward its other end, a vertically slotted flange-engaging clip en gaging the inclined end, of the central mem-' her, a vertically slotted flange clip tele: scopingly engaging the other end of the body, and nuts on the tie rod for confining the parts against movement.

2. In a rail brace a tie rod, and a clamp on the tie rod having a central member adapted to engage theunder side of the rail, a Vertically adjustable clip at each end of the adjustable member for engaging the edges and top surface of a rail, one of said clip members abutting against the central member, the other telescopingly engaging the central member, and an angular face on the central member for cooperation with the clip telescopingly engaged therewith.

Ina rail brace,a tie rod, and a clamp carried'by the tie rod comprising three cooperating members, said members including a central member-onwhich a rail may seat, a vertically. adjustable hookslilre clamping member at. one endof the central member, a second hook-like clamping member having a body portion into which a. part of the other end of theccentral.membertelescopes, said central member and second hook-like clamping member having cooperating inclinedsurfacesto effect avertical adjustment ofsaid second clamping member when it is moved longitudinally of the central member, and nuts on the-tie rod for holding the parts in adjusted position. i

4. A. track brace including a tie rod hav ing a threaded'endportion, a rail engaging elenient fitted ontothe: threaded end of the tie rod, said member having its outer end inclined inwardly from the top down, and havingan inclined bottom surfacenear its other end, a rail clamping member at the inclined end ofthe body having an inclined face for cooperation with such inclined face of the body, a second rail clamping member telcscopingly fitted over the other end of the first member, said rail clan'iping members having vertical slots therein through which tne tie rod passes, and nuts on the tie rod for confining the parts against movement.

5, A. track brace including a tie. rod having a threaded end portion, arail engaging element fitted onto the threaded end of the tie rod, said member having a substantially flat top surface, and-having substantially flat sides, the bottom face thereof near one end being inclined, a rail flangeeconfining and clamping member telescopingly fitted over the inclinedcnd ofjsaid' first=elemont, said rail flange clamping member having a cavity therein to receive and cooperate with the flatsides andjinclined bottom of th first element, a scctn d rail flange clamping and confining member at theother end of said first elementsand verticallyadj ustablc with respect thereto, said, tie rod passing through bothof said rail. clamping members, and nuts on the tie rod for holding the clamping .members .in rail ,clamping position.v

' 6. A track brace including. a :tie rod, a central rail engaging element fitted on the tiered, said, centralfelement having an in- IOU lQiS

wardly beveled face from the top down at one end, and having an inclined bottom surface at its other nd, a rail clamping member telescopingly and non-rotatably fitted over the end having the inclined bottom the end of said element which is beveled having a lug projecting longitudinally therefrom,

and a second rail clamping member at the beveled end of said element and having an inclined face for cooperation with the beveled end of said element, the second rail clamping member having a groove therein into which the lug on said element extends, the inter-fitting lug and groove serving to hold the said second clamping member against rotation, said groove being of sulficent depth to entirely receive the lug, whereby the lug may be kept out of contact with a rail being clamped, each of said rail clamping members having a vertical slot therein through which the tie rod passes, and nuts on the tie rod.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS H. EDELBLUTE. 

